History

• Shannon airport was first opened in 1942 and in October 1945 the first scheduled flight passed through.
  
• Shannon airport was used as the last port of call before the first transatlantic crossings.
  
• In 1947 it became home to the world's first duty free shop.
  
• During the Cold War and both Gulf wars the airport had a great deal of military usage.
  
• A weather radar was installed at Shannon in May 1996 and it is perhaps the most important radar in Ireland as it is the first to detect rain and wind from the south-west.